NBA Playoffs 2011: End of an Era as Lakers', Spurs' Dominance of West Is No More

For the first time since the 1998 season, the Los Angeles Lakers & the San Antonio Spurs won't be playing in the Western Conference Finals.

Historically in the past 12 years, the Spurs & Lakers have not only dominated the West, they have dominated the NBA itself.

Twelve years, 11 NBA Finals Appearances & nine NBA titles between the teams (Spurs three, Lakers two) speaks volumes about the organizations, their stability & ability to transition from generation to generation of players all the while, the remainder of the league tried to play catch-up.

From Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson & Tim Duncan to Paul Gasol, Lamar Odom, Tony Parker & Manu Ginobili, both the Spurs & Lakers have been able over the years to pass the torch to more youthful players.

Throw in Robert "Big Shot Rob" Horry who helped both teams win a combined NBA Titles & you have the makings of an NBA Dynasty.

There was Rick Fox, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry & Ron Artest, gritty players who in playoff time came up immense.

Thirteen seasons, head coach each, centerpiece after another, role players, sizable shots, playoff series that tested the limits of both teams, the Spurs & Lakers have been the best franchises in the league the last 13 years.

Four times in those 13 seasons, the have squared off against another, with usually the winner ending up in the NBA Finals.

Back in 1999, the Spurs swept the Lakers, closing out the final game at the Great Western Forum en route to their first NBA title.

From 2001 to 2004, they met every single postseason, the Lakers winning of those matchups.

In 2003, the Spurs ended the Lakers 3-peat en route to their second NBA title. In 2004, Derek Fisher's shot with .4 seconds left to play broke the back of the Spurs as the Lakers ended what might have been the best Tim Duncan-lead Spurs team to never win an NBA title.

Their last playoff matchup was in 2008 & featured the memorable non-foul call against Derek Fisher on Brent Barry in Game three. The NBA later ruled that a foul ought to have been called which would have given the Spurs a chance to win or tie with free throws.

In the finish, can only look back at the 13-year run both the Spurs & Lakers have put up with appreciation, the most dominant teams in the NBA, are completed, at least for this year.

Thirteen years of domination has finally come to an finish in the West. More youthful, hungrier, stronger, faster, faster, & bigger, the West has finally caught up & surpassed the Spurs & Lakers.

Lakers' 122-86 Game 4 loss ends underachieving season and a dynasty in embarrassing fashion

The slight smirk on his face masked Lakers Coach Phil Jackson's emotions when he stopped midcourt of American Airlines Arena & shook the hands of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban & Coach Rick Carlisle. What was going through his mind as he left the court after what was probably the last game of a storied coaching career? The slight smirk also masked his obvious frustration at the Lakers' embarrassing 122-86 Game two elimination loss Sunday to the Dallas Mavericks.

The lasting images that stain the Lakers losing in horrific fashion point to forward Lamar Odom throwing a shoulder in to Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki & middle Andrew Bynum throwing a forearm at Dallas guard J.J. Barea in separate fourth-quarter incidents that earned them ejections. But it also points to the Lakers' sending off Jackson's 19-year NBA coaching career that spanned 11 NBA championships, 13 NBA Finals appearances & 229 playoffs wins in the most unimaginable way feasible.

"This is the worst I have seen the Lakers play in a game that they needed," Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson said as an ESPN analyst. "The Lakers are already on holiday & they didn't need to play this game."

With the exception of Kobe Bryant's 17 points on seven-of-18 shooting hard work, no brought the necessary intensity to prevent a sweep. With the cheap-shot plays from Odom & Bynum, the Lakers didn't handle the finish of a Jackson dynasty with the necessary class. & in direct contrast to the Lakers molding themselves as a defensive-oriented team, they displayed little semblance of that as they continued struggling on rotations to mark open perimeter shots, leading to Dallas shooting 60.3% from the field & 62.5% from three-point range.

The mournful thing: Johnson only needed to see the Lakers' first half in which they trailed 63-39, shot 14 of 38 from the field (37%), allowed Dallas to shoot 11 of 15 from three-point range & appeared outplayed in reserve play (40-7) to make that assessment.

Nothing changed that narrative in the second half, with the Lakers' 7-1 third-quarter run led by Ron Artest quickly turning the other way after he couldn't even reach the rim on a fast-break layup with 7:43 remaining. Bryant's plan in setting the tone early quickly was nullified because of problems continually plaguing the Lakers, including a tepid Pau Gasol (10 points on four of 10 shooting), a perimeter-happy offense (37.8%) and a discipline-lacking defense.

That's why it's unfortunate for Jackson that he spent what's presumed to be the last game of his coaching career like that. Within a three-minute, 15-second span in the second quarter, Jackson stood up on the sideline performing a series of moves that hardly defined his storied coaching career. He called three timeouts, demonstrating his belief that he should grant players trust in learning on their own doesn't apply to this group. He yelled at players, including Gasol, Bynum and Odom, showing his belief that exuding calmness helps the Lakers' psyche doesn't apply to this group. And he immediately re-inserted his starters, revealing that his belief that empowering players to learn through their mistakes doesn't apply to this group.

Jackson deviated from his general philosophy for obvious reasons, knowing the stakes of an elimination game were so high. But this illustrates perhaps the biggest indictment on the Lakers. With all the concepts Jackson taught this experienced team in maintaining its composure, staying in the moment and trusting one another, the Lakers spent all series doing the exact opposite, finger-pointing, refusing to help out on defense and never taking responsibility.

As disappointing an end this marks for Jackson amid the lost opportunity in collecting a 12th NBA title and three-peating for the fourth time in his coaching career, this loss hardly stains his storied legacy. But it surely stains the legacy of the Lakers' 2010-2011 team that never gave Jackson the storybook ending he deserved.

NBA: Dallas 122, Los Angeles Lakers 86

The Mavericks completed off the two-time defending NBA champions in embarrassing fashion & set up a gathering for the Western Conference title against either Memphis or Oklahoma City.

DALLAS, May 8 (UPI) -- A record 3-point barrage led by Jason Terry Sunday sent Dallas storming past Los Angeles 122-86 to finish an unlikely four-game playoff sweep of the Lakers.

Once in the series Dallas rallied in the fourth quarter, leaving the Lakers in require of an historic work to keep their hopes for another championship alive. No team has ever won an NBA playoff series after losing the first games.

The game was  definitely the last for Los Angeles Coach Phil Jackson, who has won 11 NBA crowns in a Hall-of-Fame career. They has indicated this would be his final season.

The Mavericks did not need a comeback in Game three thanks to a dominating second quarter that gave them a 63-39 halftime lead.

Terry, in his 11th season, made 6-of-7 shots from 3-point range in the first half & completed with 32 points. They made an NBA playoff record nine 3-pointers overall in ten attempts & Dallas hit twenty shots from beyond the arc to equal the league's high playoff mark.

The Mavericks shot a staggering 61 percent from the field while winning their sixth straight playoff game.

With Los Angeles unable to make any kind of second-half charge, it was left to the Dallas bench to finish off the sweep.

The reserve players scored 86 points for Dallas, the same number as the whole Los Angeles team managed. Backup point guard J.J. Barea had 22 points & Peja Stojakovic added 21.

Dirk Nowitzki was the only Dallas starter in double figures with 17.

Kobe Bryant, who paced the Lakers to their most recent league titles, scored 17 points in his final game of the season while making 7-of-18 shots.

Dallas will now have a chance to rest while Memphis & Oklahoma City battle in what could be a long series. Memphis has a 2-1 advantage in the series & will host Game three Monday.

Lakers vs Mavericks Game Four : Andrew Bynum Caught on Video Ejecting for Flagrant on J.J Barea

Andrew Bynum was kicked out of the game in 4th quarter when they elbowed J.J. Barea in to the floor while they was going for the lay up. Barea still managed to make the shot.
The move highlighted the desperation as the Lakers were approaching their 4th lost in the NBA playoffs Sunday night.


Bynum was ejected from the game and on the way out they took his shirt off and walked out of the stadium.
The fould was, by all accounts, intentional, and could have seriously injured J.J Barea.
The Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Mavericks, suffering of the worst loss in Laker's playoff history.
The final score was 122-86, giving the Mavs victory against the Lakers.

Click Here To Watch The Video

Lakers vs. Mavericks Game Four: Dallas sweeps Lakers out of playoffs with 122-86 win

Mavericks 122, Lakers 86 (final)

In a game not befitting the long & successful career of Coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers were embarrassed by the Dallas Mavericks, 122-86, & swept out of the Western Conference semifinals, game to none.

The game was fundamentally over at halftime, although the Lakers could cut their deficit to 19 points in the third quarter. The Mavericks outscored the Lakers, 36-16, in the second quarter.

It wasn�t that the Lakers played poorly -- although credit the Mavericks with an unbelievable three-point shooting game -- it was the total lack of class they showed down the stretch. Both Lamar Odom & Andrew Bynum were ejected for cheap shots in separate incidents in the fourth quarter.

But, in the finish, the Mavericks were unbelievable in shooting threes. They were twenty of 32 with Jason Terry making nine of ten. Both tied playoff records. & Terry isn�t even a starter.

With minutes to play, both coaches were playing reserves. Of coursework, in the Mavericks' case, it was the second-teamers who won the game. They outscored the Lakers bench, 85-37. In fact, the Mavericks reserves outscored the starters.

The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant with 17 points. Shannon Brown added 15.

Terry was the game�s leading scorer with 32 points. Jose Barea had 22 points & Peja Stojakovic added 21. Not of the are starters.

It appeared as if the Lakers retired even before the finish of this game.

It was a most unmemorable finish to Jackson�s career, since he's said he is retiring after this season.

RELATED:

Lakers-Mavericks Game two box score


Lakers-Mavericks Game two picture gallery

Mavericks 100, Lakers 68 (8:21 remaining in fourth quarter)

The Lakers got back when Lamar Odom drove the lane for a bucket. But Dirk Nowitzki came back with -- what else? -- a.

Fittingly, the Lakers opened the final quarter as Shannon Brown missed a 20-footer, got the rebound & threw up an airball. Brendan Haywood, of the worst free-throw shooters in the league, then made of them & the lead was 26 points.

Matt Barnes got a different version of a as he was fouled on a put-back, which went in, & then he hit the foul shot.


Peja Stojakovic then hit the Mavericks 17th three-point shot -- a playoff record. The lead was 27. Odom was fouled on the next possession & made of.
The game then began to turn chippy as Odom shoved Nowitzki for a flagrant foul seven & Odom was tossed from the game. Nowitzki made the technicals. The referees were concerned about losing control & called a speedy foul on Ron Artest to let the players know to dial things down.

Mavericks 86, Lakers 57 (finish of third quarter)

But it didn�t work. Jose Barea drove the lane & Andrew Bynum elbowed him in the ribs while he was in the air. Barea landed hard on the court & Bynum was also thrown out of the game when a flagrant foul seven was called with the Mavericks up by 32.

Coming out of a timeout Pau Gasol made an simple jumper but that was answered by Jason Kidd. Gasol followed that up with a. Kobe Bryant had suddenly lost his touch as he appeared to be missing shots that he normally makes with ease.

Jason Terry has definitely been a game changer -- of lots of -- for the Mavericks. His eight-of-nine three-point shooting is short of the playoff record.

Terry tied the NBA record for three-pointers when he made his ninth with about minutes to play in the quarter. Shannon Brown came back down for a.

The Lakers did cut the deficit to 22 points with a Lamar Odom reverse. Jose Barea, who has been a pest to the Lakers, then drove for a. Odom followed that possession with an very identical reverse, he was fouled but missed the shot.

Dirk Nowitzki followed with a layup. Then after Brown missed a, the Mavericks got their 15th three-pointer of the game when Peja Stojakovic scored from long range. The Lakers were now down by 29. No hope. No chance. This series is over.

The quarter ended as Odom made of free throws, Matt Barnes made a layup & Brown made another layup. But 24 points is lots of for the Lakers to make up in 12 minutes.

Mavericks 71, Lakers 46 (6:19 remaining in third quarter)

Can the Lakers come back from a 24-point deficit? Not the way they played in the first half.

The Lakers came out firing in the third quarter as Ron Artest made a three-pointer after Mavericks misses to cut the lead to 21 points. But Dirk Nowitzki, who seemingly never misses, made a. The game returned & forth with some sloppy play & lots of missed shots.

Indicative of the way the Lakers were playing was when Artest missed a layup & then fouled a Maverick.

The Lakers had closed it to 19 points before Jason Terry knocked down a pair of three-pointers & the lead was 25 again.

Mavericks 63, Lakers 39 (halftime)

The Mavericks made their 10th three-pointer when Peja Stojakovic hit a 25-footer & the lead returned to 18 points. After some misses, the Lakers then turned the ball over on offensive goaltending. After the Lakers turned it over again, Dirk Nowitzki hit a jumper & the lead was twenty.

On the Lakers' next possession, a bad pass resulted in another basket by Jason Terry, who followed that with yet another three-pointer. The lead was 25 points & this Lakers team looks dead in the water.

Seldom have the Lakers been dominated like they were in this first half. There doesn�t appear to be much hope that they can come back, although stranger things have happened.

Derek Fisher did finish the quarter with of free throws, Pau Gasol missed the follow & the half ended a few seconds later.

Terry was the leading scorer with twenty points, followed by Stojakovic with 12. Nowitzki & Barea each had seven. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 15, followed by Bynum with three & Fisher with.

The story of the first half is in the shooting. The Mavericks were 25 of 42 (59.5%), including 11 of 15 from the three-point line. The Lakers were 14 of 38 (37%), & for seven from long range. The Mavericks' bench outscored the Lakers by an astonishing 40-7.

Mavericks 53, Lakers 38 (two:37 remaining in second quarter)

Coming out of the last timeout, Jose Barea & Ron Artest traded baskets but Jason Terry & Peja Stojakovic each hit three-pointers to extend the Maverick' lead to 18 points, 50-32. It was the ninth three-pointer in the first 18 minutes for the Mavericks.

Kobe Bryant did that for a few moments but Barea answered with an simple basket. Lamar Odom came back down & scored for the Lakers. After misses by Dirk Nowitzki & Derek Fisher, the Lakers' point guard fouled Stojakovic & he made of free throws to give the Mavericks a 17-point lead. Pau Gasol finally made his first field aim to cut the deficit to 15 points & the Mavericks called a timeout.

Laker Coach Phil Jackson, not known to panic, called a speedy timeout to try to settle his team.

Mavericks 42, Lakers 30 (8:11 remaining in second quarter)

The second quarter started strong for the Mavericks as Jason Terry made a three-pointer & Peja Stojakovic stole the ball & scored on a layup to give the Mavericks a nine-point lead. Andrew Bynum cut the Lakers' deficit to two with a couple of free throws. After a steal, Bynum drove for a layup but it was answered by Dirk Nowitzki.

Coming out of a timeout, Steve Blake hit the first three-pointer for the Lakers. Jose Barea made a for the Mavericks & Terry continued his torrid three-point shooting for another basket, forcing Lakers Coach Phil Jackson to call a timeout along with his team down by 12 points.

Terry gave the Mavericks a 10-point lead with another & it was clear the Lakers had to discover a way to close down their long-range shooting or this series will be over. At this point the Mavericks were three for nine from beyond the three-point line, while the Lakers missed all of their long-distance shots.

Mavericks 27, Lakers 23 (finish of first quarter)

Missing from the Lakers' offense early in the first quarter was Pau Gasol, who lots of are blaming for the Lakers' sudden downturn. He missed both his shots & had rebound.

Kobe Bryant stopped the run with a jumper but Jason Kidd answered with a & the Dallas lead was three. Fisher came back down the court for a, along with his foot on the three-point line. After misses by both teams, Bryant came back with a & the Lakers returned to within.

Coming out of the timeout, the Lakers needed to cease the 6-0 Mavericks run but Derek Fisher missed a long three-pointer. The Mavericks made it an 8-0 run on a Tyson Chandler slam off a lob pass.

The Mavericks called timeout with seven:53 to play & came out of it with a turnover. Gasol drove the lane, was fouled & made both shots to tie the score.

The Lakers were clearly leaning on Bryant. With minutes to play in the quarter only Bryant, Fisher & Andrew Bynum had scored for the Lakers, while all the Mavericks starters had put up points.

Jose Barea seven times again beat the Lakers through the lane for a & the Lakers looked bad on their final possession of the quarter with misses.

Jason Terry put the Mavericks up again with a, underscoring how the Mavericks' bench has been playing. After a Fisher miss, Peja Stojakovic made a & the Mavericks' lead was three. Bryant cut it to with a jumper. & Shannon Brown cut it by more with free throws after he was fouled on a breakaway.

Bryant was the leading scorer with 13 points. Chandler had for the Mavericks, followed by Shawn Marion & Dirk Nowitzki with.

The stats painted a picture that explains the Lakers' troubles. They were seven of 19 from the field, including missing all three-pointers. The Mavericks were 11-for-21 shooting but made of two from beyond the three-point line. The Mavericks' bench outscored the Lakers bench 8-2.

Mavericks 14, Lakers 11 (three:22 remaining in first quarter)

Lots of missed shots in the opening minutes of this ever-so-important game as both teams struggled from the field. Kobe Bryant scored the first points for the Lakers off a free throw (he missed the other) & a jumper. The Mavericks got their first points on a by DeShawn Stevenson.

The Lakers extended the lead to 9-6 on a basket by Andrew Bynum. Dirk Nowitzki & Bryant traded baskets but after a turnover, Shawn Marion gave the Mavericks the lead 12-11. Ron Artest, back after a game suspension, missed a shot & Marion scored on a runner to give the Mavericks a 14-11 lead heading in to the first timeout.

A three-point play by Tyson Chandler gave the Mavericks a 6-3 lead but a couple of foul shots by Derek Fisher & a basket by Bryant gave the Lakers the lead at 7-6.

Pregame

--John Cherwa

In the Mavericks' Game two win in Dallas, their bench poured in 42 points to only 15 for the Lakers.

The disparity in bench play has been of the dominant themes of this series, & a clear reason why the Lakers are 48 minutes away from elimination.

In Sunday's Game two, Coach Phil Jackson said he will play Artest, so at least the minutes ought to even out in the front court.

The Lakers' huge men also had to play heavy minutes on Friday because Ron Artest was suspended. Lamar Odom played 42 minutes, Pau Gasol 40 & Andrew Bynum 37. & the Lakers' defense was sloppy in the final mnutes of play.

 to my surprise the betting site Beted.com has the same line on Game two as it did in Game two: Mavericks favored by points.

--Barry Stavro

Picture: Lakers power forward Pau Gasol attempts a shot over the double-team defense of Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd & forward Peja Stojakovic in the first half Sunday in Dallas. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times